The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and relevant links.

Encore - Lightning Over Braunfels, Germany

June 30, 2018

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.

The photo above showing a cloud-to-ground lightning strike during an eerie electrical storm was taken from the balcony of my home overlooking the city of Braunfels, Germany. It doesn't take much imagination to think that late one night, in a lab of the pictured castle, such a bolt of electricity might jolt a certain man-made monster to life and rouse a caped count, known for his unnatural affinity for erythrocytes, from his cozy coffin. Braunfels is a picturesque, tranquil town during the day, but on a stormy night... well, it's best to keep your windows shut, your doors locked and a garlic bulb or two handy -- and try to ignore those baying hounds. Photo taken in August 29, 2012.